Ambassador Bridge billionaire owner Matty Moroun may get to build a long-sought bridge after all – just not a twin span across the Detroit River.

An escalating dispute between the operator of the only ferry carrying vehicles to a residential island just north of Detroit has Moroun talking about building a bridge that would connect the island – and its 1,200 full-time residents – to the mainland in Michigan, near Algonac. The number of residents on the island swells to as many as 5,000 in the summer.

Harsens Island sits on the U.S.-Canada border at the mouth of the St. Clair River next to Walpole Island and about 10 kilometres west of Wallaceburg.

Those on the island – similar to Boblo Island on this side of the border – rely solely on the ferry to get to work, schools and to shop.

Moroun has long owned property on Harsens Island and first proposed building a bridge more than a half-dozen years ago to give residents another option to connect with the mainland in Clay Township.

But Moroun dumped the idea when the community showed little interest and the economy faltered. With a recent dispute between the owner of island’s Champion’s Auto Ferry and state authorities, his bridge proposal has again been revived.

The ferry owner David Bryson has threatened to retire and close his business after the state a few months ago refused his request to bump up ferry tolls by $1 per round trip. The current price for each vehicle is $7.

Meanwhile, Moroun – who has been aggressive in court in battling governments to get his twin span constructed at the Windsor-Detroit border and kill competitive threats – has seemingly taken a much different strategy with the island bridge.

The time is right to build the bridge, but Moroun will not do so unless he has the support of the Harsens Island community, said bridge company president Dan Stamper.

“As our company reviews opportunities for the construction of a bridge to Harsens Island, we are committed to preserving that community¹s choice in its future,” Stamper said in a recent statement.

“Any construction of a permanent and reliable vehicle crossing to connect Harsens Island to the mainland should be contingent on the approval of the people and should not be imposed without regard to the choice of those that would be served.”

Stamper indicated he would like the issue to be put before a vote of residents on the island.

Construction would take about 18 months to complete on a Harsens Island bridge – likely to be a drawbridge in order to allow freighters to cross through the river’s channel, he said.

It appears residents remain divided on the issue, with many voicing displeasure with the idea of a bridge, saying it would disrupt waterfront views and change the island’s casual way of life.

“How many people do you know that take a ferry home, to work?” she said. “It’s a unique place to live, a peaceful place to live. I’m not afraid to walk out of my door, ever.”

Some also don’t trust Moroun’s handling of tolls should he have private control of the bridge. They point to his history at the Ambassador Bridge where cars pay $4.75 in tolls to cross in one direction and trucks pay roughly $25 each.

Stamper indicated tolls for an island bridge would be the same as the cost for the ferry service and has indicated a willingness to work with island officials to secure rates under a contract.

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